The World Container Index assessed by Drewry, a composite of container freight rates on 8 major routes to/from the US, Europe and Asia, is up by 12.2% to $1550/40ft container [updated Thurs, 6 Jul 17].  Two-year spot freight rate trend for the World Container Index:

World Container Index: Drewry assessment on Thursday, 6 July 2017 The composite index is up by 12.2% this week and up by 9% from the same period of 2016. The average composite index of the WCI, assessed by Drewry for year-to-date, is US $1,552/40ft container, which is $124 lower than the five-year average of $1,676/40ft container. It is also 9% higher than a year ago. Spot rates on the Shanghai-Rotterdam route shot up to $1,936 – an increase of $284 for a 40ft box this week – as a result of peak season demand and the 1 July GRIs. Similarly, rates on Transpacific eastbound trade surged. Spot rates from Shanghai to New York went up by $388 to reach $2,405 for a 40ft box, and to Los Angeles by $257 to $1,390 on the back of the GRIs. The rates on the Transpacific routes are likely to dip while Asia-Europe remains strong next week.